Police say they are treating a fire at an Auckland Kāinga Ora apartment block which saw people evacuated over the weekend as “suspicious”.
The fire at the Ōtāhuhu complex began in the early hours of Sunday morning, with 10 crews responding at the peak of the inferno.
Fire and Emergency assistant commander Dave Hatton said the blaze was “significant”.
“It was an awesome effort from the firefighting crews, and it’s a credit to all of them.
“They were professional in the way they carried out their duties and it’s always good for the guys when they can complete these rescues and make sure people get out safely.”
Police said in a statement to 1News that the blaze was being treated as suspicious and that the cause was under investigation.
“Inquiries are ongoing and we’re unable to comment further at this time”.
Kāinga Ora said no one was injured in the fire and that 56 flats in the complex were left without power and water as a result.
“At this stage we have had to move six customers from their homes.
“We are arranging alternative accommodation for these customers while we assess the extent of the damage to their homes and organise any repair work that is necessary.”
Teen describes aiding rescue using trampoline
Yesterday, Resident Ve’a Ve’a told 1News that a fire alarm had gone off earlier in the week and that his brother was the one who first alerted him, last night, that it was a real fire.
Watch the full interview on TVNZ+
“As soon as I came down, we saw the fire go from medium, in about 20 seconds, it started going big.”
The 19-year-old said he then sprung into action with help from other residents.
A man came out onto the balcony and looked like he was going to go back inside before he hopped over to another balcony, slid down and escaped, he said.
“Someone from the other side, they must have seen some kids still up there. We had a trampoline over here, got some boys and took it over there.”
They used the trampoline to help people get down safely from the third floor before firefighters arrived, Ve’a said, adding they helped two people down. He then went up to the second floor to help people get down from the burning apartment.
“When they brought the ladder, I was up there by myself.
“I was actually scared. It was just too foggy in there and just hard to breathe.”
